SHOOTING W I U » V Q W h IN '£ II 1$ H W A M V H,-Smk imok i, SHOOTING- -WILD' FOWL ''IN THE SWAMPS? On a recent occasion our artist had an oppor tunity of witnessing the modus operandi of the wholesale duck-shooters, by whom our markets are supplied with game. Being en the border of the Fifteen-mile Swamp, near Mount Hope, he came upon a clump of umbrageous swamp gums, which sheltered the teat of the sportsmen, if so they may be called, though the designation is scarcely appro priate. Close to the edge of the swamp was a small, light, flat-bottomed boat or scow, in the fore part of which was fixed; a largo gun, , working ; on a swivel. /Behind --the , gun lay 1 one of the men ; waiting' a chance 'for a ' shot,whilb a sturdyblack wrappedin an cipposumrng ; propelled the scow, to the proper spot. . It was early inorning, and the silence was scarcely disturbed, by '?:?'-. the curious note of the native' companion, -and the quacking of teal or duck. Occasionally too might be heard ; th...

BOYAL SOCIETY OF VICTOEIA. The usual monthly meeting of this society was held at the hall, Latrobe-strcet, Monday 8th inst., the president (Mr Ellery) in the chair. The. minutes of tho previous meeting were read and confirmed. ' / The council of the -Bocj.pjy brought up a recom mendation that Messrs -Rf. H.' Archer, H. Christo pherson, O. P.-Ivey, W.- jpliirsbn, and L. Visseaux, be removed from the rplT of '? membership for non payment of subscriptioii. ' ;t Dr. Crooke inquired wije^er the gentlemen. ta'ai^ed had been solicited to pay their subscription's. ri, The Secretary said they liac}, and had distinctly 'refused payment. On the ptotiori of 'Mr Aplin,' ''gece'iid'ed; by Mr A. K. Smith, le' r^conimendatio^ of this' council was confirmed. Tlie fbjibwing new inembers were balloted for and declare'd'! elected, .''viz'. ??^jklessrV 'W. WiUiams, J. Mouiiray^ J, Amp's',' ? jVl'iPhe'rspn, A. Linacro, A. Wal&amp;rj Fenwick', 'arid *H.' 'Sounders. ' The' PaEgnoENT Called attention to...

Tyo Boys were playing with a how and arrow a Wonbat Flat, Daylesford, when one drew tho bow, and Jtho arrow struck the other boy in tho eye, totaly depriving him of sight. Tie Last Act op All. — Tho glory of tho old Theitro Eoyal in Malop- street kns departed. The last (iaina that may over be played upon the old. familavboaitls, whereon so many famous Thes pians' some of whom, alas, are now no more, have trod ii times gone by, was onacted yesfcorday, when Mr levy, the auctioneer, in accordance with instruc tionsfrom Mr Elmes, the proprietor of tho building, sulnrittod for salo the wlujle of tho fixtures and stugej machinery within the premises. Thero was |a largo attendance of spectators at the jiournful tragedy. The lots wore 'knocked dowr( however, at sums which did not speak much for tie theatrical speculativeness of the attendants. A qumtity of stago stuff, consisting of scenery, machnery, canvas, statues, thunder, rain, and so forth) was knocked doivn at a mere trifle. The bonc...

THE NEW TARIFF. The following is the schedule of duties leviable under, the Customs Duties t Act, which was pri Tues day; 26th ult., read a tliird, time, and passed :— Spirits er strong , waters of any strength not .exceed ing the strength of proof by Sykes' hydrometer, and; so in prppbrtibn , f or any greater^ strength than the strength of proof, from and after, the 1st October, 1867, 10s per gallon; or. 40s. for bach re puted 'i gallon edse, ^.pr .20s for s each reputed 2 gallon case, when tlie , said cases, rGspectively do not contain more than ilie reputed contents, and so, .on for .each reputed gallon or part of a gallon.. Spirits, cordials, liqueurs, or strong waterk, swpetened or mixed with any other article,, so that tlie degree of strength cannot, be ' ascertained hy .Syltes' hydrpmetor (hicludiig , all alcohol diluted or undiluted with water or other inen ptruum, and containing in solution any. essential oil, ether, or other flavoring or other substance whether of natural ...

GOLD NEAE WANGARATTA. 'We glean a few further particulars relative to the discovery of gold in the vicinity of Wangoratta, from two men, Messrs Heary Faithful and John Malonev, who have visited the locality, near Mr Farrell's, Bedi sta tion. The following is the substance of their story : — The new diggings ore about fifty miles from Wangaratta, towards Myhree, on the road to the Broken River. The country in the vicinity is very scrubby; in fact, the creek on which the men are' work ing is called Scrubby Creek. Faithful and Maloney' had some difficulty in penetrating through the scrub on account of its density. On arriving' at the creek, they found throeN Hien engaged in box-sluicing; the depth of the ground being about five feet. The top soil is stripped, and all the gravel is put through the boxes. The creok has almost no' fall, so that a tail-race would bo of little or no benefit. About one hundred yards of the creok lias already been werked by the men, who say they have been in ...

THE VICTORIA REGIA IN THE BOTANICAL GARDENS. The Victoria Regia plant of South America, has for some years been familiar to English horticultu raHsts, through specimens which have been reared in the greenhouses of wealthy societies and indi viduals, but it is only within the last two months that it has been successfully brought to maturity in this colony. Attempts have been made from time to time to raise plants in our Botanical Cardens, and have almost inexplicably failed until recently. The latest experiment,\of which we now record the suc cess/'was made with some seeds obtained from the Botanic Garden at Amsterdam. These, were placed in,a flower pot, and-Dr. Mueller, 'the curator of the gardens, had- the '??. pleasure of seeing one young plant 'spring- up; and promise a vigorous .growth. The rest all failed. ' The shoot. whidvappeared; was removed into. a: tub of , water,' with 'a few inches.of earth at- the -bottom, and a large .'tank. was. constructed with the greatest possible...

THE REFUGE. The annual ? meeting of subscribers to the Refuge in Madeline-street, took place at the Mechanics' Institution- oh Monday 8th inst. The Rev. M. H. Becher presided, and six sub scribers attended. The annual report showed that from the institution 'of the Refuge to the end of 1866 thero had been 198 admissions, and of these forty-three were known to be recovered to the paths of virtue. Some had been respectably married, others had returned to their friends, and the re mainder were in service. During the year 1866, there were nineteen inmates who obtainedsituations, or were restored to their friends. 21 left of their own ac cord, 3 were dismissed, and 1 married. 15 inmateg remained in the Refuge at the end of 1866. ? Since that time the progress had been 'satisfactory, arid from all their experience the committee concluded that 30 per cent, might safely be stated 'as the number of inmates who were 'permanently reclaiiried. Many of those who left '''?'? of their own accord m...

THE 1N3?EEGOLONIAL CONEEEENOE. The following is the jpetition of the Melbourno, Chamber of Commerce io the tegislatiye As sembly:— ' ! '.????' ?,: ' -,? _???'?-?-'/.:? ' ,',' .':'' To tho honorable the Speaker and' Members of the ' 'liegislativo' Assembly of Victoria;; in Parliament assembled': The 'petition' of 'the'' undersigned members' of the Melbourne1 Chamber ! of 'Com- merce; merchants, bankers, and' others interested in 'the trade of Melbburne;Jresp'ectfully showeth;'-— That your' petitioners view with concern arid' ap- prehension the recommendations- in* reference :to . postal arrangements ' contained in the' reported 'Proceedings of tho ; Rep'resbntatives of -the- Sis ColonieB of ' ! Victoria;'New- South :Wales- New Zea- . land, South Australia; Queensland, and'Tasmania.'! That although your petitioners regard1 ds highly important and desirable the promotion of friendly co-operation between all the Australasiari colonies in matters affecting their common welfare, they can ...

THE OEPHANAGE BEVISITED. jjr ' GKQ1.' 'In jail and out of jail, in jail and ont of jail, in jail and out of jail. There you've got it. That]s my life pretty much ;' such are the words Charles Dickons pnt into the mouth of ono.of his life-like characters. Many are the men who have no better account to give of their lives, and no doubt the number would be greatly increased were it not for the liberal care taken of parontless children by charitable institutions. Not that I hnvo over been in jail, but the words of Dickens's convict might have been the sum total of my life hitherto, had it not.been for the friends' I met with years ago. The associations of a charitable institu ' tion may not be considend by every one a pleasant retrospect. I, however, look back with plensuro on ' those few years I spent in the Melbourne Orphan Asylum. I do not know, and may never know how, when or whore I was left an orphan, and/who were the kind friends that first interested themselves on tiiv Vininlf. ...

THE NEW TURKISH BATHS. .On the ruins of the Turkish Batks, in Lonsdale street east, lately destroyed by fire, has sprung up a new institution of a Bimilar nature, but far excelling the former one in every respect, whether as regards convenience, elegance, suitability for the purpose to which it is devoted, or the comfort of the visitors. The old baths, however admirable in their way, were after all, mere makeshifts in. many respects, having been added to, altered and modified as the necessi ties of the undertaking increased, and the entire affair might be fairly described as ' a thing of shreds and patches.' The Turkish Baths, from then* com mencement in Melbourne, rapidly grew in pnblic favor, and have now become a necessary institution, of which thousands of persons have felt and know the advantages. The present undertaking t has been , carried o.ut^by a company,- ami placed. in the experienced, hands of Mr , Pietrieclie, the gentleman who established, the first .Turkish' bath in ...

INQUIRY INTO THE CONDUCT OF THE REV. CALEB BOOTH, OP WAN GARATTA. ?An inquiry into the conduct of the Rev. C. Booth, of Wangaratta, was hold, on Tuesday, 9th inst., 'in. Trinity Church, East Melbourne, before Mr J. W. Stephen, the chancellor of. the diocese, and four assessors. The proceedings were opened with prayer and the administration of the Sacrament to all who were present, by the Rev. Mr Becher. The inquiry ?was held under the 18 Viet., No. 45. ; Mr Bennett appeared as advocate for the bishop ; Mr Billing apoared for the Rev. C. Booth. The assessors were the Rev. Mr Goodman, Kev. Mr Barlow, tho hon. Mr Sladeni M.L.O., and Mr Godfrey. The Chancellor of the Diocese, in opening the proceedings, addressed the assessors, and said this was the first court held under the act which provided for the trial of a certain class of offences before assessors, presided over by him as Chancellor of the Diocese. They' had cast upon ilieiri the doublo duty of deter mining ? two, questions, one...